Whether the feet be two or four, they traverse the road, like the double shears (which) makes (but) one cut.
گر دو پا گر چار پا ره را برد ** همچو مقراض دو تا یکتا برد
Look at those two fellow-washermen: there is apparently a difference between that one and this:
آن دو همبازان گازر را ببین ** هست در ظاهر خلافی ز آن و ز این
The one has thrown the cotton garments into the water, while the other partner is drying them.
آن یکی کرباس را در آب زد ** و آن دگر همباز خشکش می‌‌کند
Again the former makes the dry clothes wet: ’tis as though he were spitefully thwarting his opposite;
باز او آن خشک را تر می‌‌کند ** گوییا ز استیزه ضد بر می‌‌تند
Yet these two opposites, who seem to be at strife, are of one mind and acting together in agreement.3085
لیک این دو ضد استیزه نما ** یکدل و یک کار باشد در رضا
Every prophet and every saint hath a way (of religious doctrine and practice), but it leads to God: all (the ways) are (really) one.
هر نبی و هر ولی را مسلکی است ** لیک تا حق می‌‌برد جمله یکی است
When slumber (heedlessness) overtook the concentration (attention) of the listener, the water carried the millstones away.
چون که جمع مستمع را خواب برد ** سنگهای آسیا را آب برد
The course of this water is above the mill: its going into the mill is for your sakes.
رفتن این آب فوق آسیاست ** رفتنش در آسیا بهر شماست
Since ye had no further need of the mill, he (the prophet or saint) made the water flow back into the original stream.
چون شما را حاجت طاحون نماند ** آب را در جوی اصلی باز راند
The rational spirit (the Logos) is (coming) to the mouth for the purpose of teaching: else (it would not come, for) truly that speech hath a channel apart:3090
ناطقه سوی دهان تعلیم راست ** ور نه خود آن نطق را جویی جداست